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B. W. SALISBURY.

TELEPHONE DESK.

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NI'IED STATES PATENT OFFIGE.

EDGAR W. SALISBURY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

TELEPHONE-DESK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 262,248, dated August 8, 1882.

Application filed April 1, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR W SALISBURY, of the city and countyof Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Telephone-Desks; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a convenient desk attached to or near a telephone-instrument, so that a dispatch received can be readily written with one hand, while the receiving-instrument is held with the other.

The invention consists in the peculiar construction of a desk which can be readily secured to or near a telephone-instrument, and is provided with a clip held down by springs, so that the paper will be firmly held in place while it is being written on.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved telephone-desk, shown secured to a telephone-instrument, which is shown in broken lines. Fig. 2 is an end view of my improved telephone-desk, showing the coiled spring by which the clip is pressed on the paper and the same firmly held while writing on the same.

in the drawings, a is the back and support of the desk. It is provided with the eye-piece I), by which it can be readily secured either to or near a telephone-instrument, and may be additionally fastened by means of the screws 0. A triangular bracket, d, is secured at each end, and on the same the table (1 is secured.

f is a hinged clip, which may be provided with pins; or pins may project from the table and enter holes in the clip, so as to hold any paper or sheet placed between the clip and table more firmly. When the desk is not in use this clip may be turned back upon its hinges and stand upon its rear edge, thus providing a high front wall to prevent the escape of art'cles from the recess or compartment h, from which paper, pencils, and other articles ofstatione-ry are liable to be blown by currents of air when not noticed. The thumb-piece of the clip will extend across the top of the compartment when the clip is raised, and add to the security with which the articles are retained.

g g are two coiled springs, secured atoneend on the brackets d d and on the other end to the hinged clip f. These springs g g allow the hinged clip to be raised and paper or other (No model.)

sheets to be inserted and firmly held by the tension on the springs g g, by which the clip is held against the paper and the table, so that while writing on the same the paper will not move, and only one hand is required, leaving the other hand free to hold the receiving-instrument to the ear of the person using the telephone.

The clip f is hinged at the upper end of the inclined table, and a horizontal space, It, is formed between the clip and the back, forming a convenient place on which a pen or pencil can be laid, retained in place by the projecting clip.

The lower ends of the springs are secured in such position that the. tension of the springs will be exerted to hold the clip either flat down upon the table or in its elevated position, standing upon its rear edge. From the nature of the drawings only one spring is shown, and only one is actually necessary, though I prefer to use two, one at each end of the clip. The clip may clamp paper and other articles under its rear edgewhen elevated, so that it serves as a clip, if desired, in both of its positions. forming a part of, or secured near a telephone-instrument, forms an article of great couvenience to users of telephones, as any message received can be readily reduced to writing while itis being received, and all mistakes caused by writing the same after the whole is received avoided.

I am aware that an inclined musicsupport has been provided at its upper edge with a clip for holding music-sheets, and also that a bracket-desk has been constructed with an inclined leat'and flat top, provided with grooves or recesses for holding pens and other articles, and I do not claim either such a music-support or such a desk.

Having thus described myinvention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The combination, with the desk having the inclined table 6 and flat top, of the clip f, hinged at the upper edge of the table, and adapted to either lie upon theinclined portion of the desk or to be turned back and stand upon its rear edge upon the desktop, and one or more springs arranged to hold said clip in both of its said positions, substantially as described.

Witnesses:

M. E. EMERSON. J. A. MILLER, Jr.

EDGAR W. SALISBURY.

The whole, whether connected to, 

